Written contract in Russian
A labour contract must be in writing and include the Labour Code's mandatory terms. An English offer letter is not the contract.
Europe · Hiring guide · 2026
Hiring in Russia: labour law and payroll
This page is the labour-law and payroll stack for multinational employers who still hire in Russia. It is not a salary survey and not a sanctions opinion.
In-country employment is how you run this stack without your own Russian company — provided payroll and filings can still be operated.
To hire without incorporating first, use in-country employment in Russia.
Contracts
Contracts and probation
Probation
Probation is generally up to three months, or up to six months for certain heads. It must be in the contract to apply.
Fixed-term
Fixed-term contracts are allowed only on Labour Code grounds. Using them as a revolving door is a conversion risk.
Hours
Working time and overtime
Hours
Normal working time is 40 hours a week. Overtime is limited and paid at statutory premiums (generally 1.5× then 2×).
Leave
Basic paid annual leave is 28 calendar days. Unused leave is paid out on termination.
Pay dates
Salary is generally paid at least every half-month. A single monthly HQ cycle is a Labour Code breach.
Wage floor
Minimum wage, 2026
Federal MROT is a monthly floor for full-time work. Regional minima can be higher. Insurance is a statutory tariff. These are not market salaries.
| Rule | Figure |
|---|---|
| Federal MROT 2026 | RUB 27,093 / month from 1 January 2026 |
| Unified insurance tariff | 30% up to RUB 2,979,000 annual base, then 15.1% |
| Accident insurance | Separate tariff by activity class |
| 13th month | Not a federal statutory 13th salary |
MROT is set by Federal Law No. 429-FZ of 28 November 2025. A full-time employee who has completed the monthly work norm cannot be paid below it. Reduced SME tariffs exist where the employer qualifies — do not assume them.
Exit
Terminating and offboarding
Grounds
Termination needs a Labour Code article (agreement, employee notice, employer grounds, expiry of a lawful fixed term). At-will is not a ground.
Notice and final pay
Notice periods depend on the ground. Final pay includes unused leave. Delaying the workbook (трудовая) handover is a dispute.
Redundancy
Staff reduction has a statutory sequence: notice, vacancy offers, and severance. Do not relabel a redundancy as a performance exit without a file.
Questions
FAQ
- What is the 2026 minimum wage in Russia?
- Federal MROT is RUB 27,093 per month from 1 January 2026. Check whether a regional agreement sets a higher minimum.
- What is the employer insurance rate?
- The standard unified tariff is 30% up to RUB 2,979,000 of annual pay, then 15.1%, plus accident insurance by risk class.
- Is a 13th month required?
- No federal statutory 13th salary. Extra months follow the contract or local acts.
- Can we dismiss without cause?
- No. Use a Labour Code ground, the matching notice, and pay unused leave.
Other markets
Other hiring guide pages
Reviewed 11 September 2026
This is a hiring briefing for multinational employers, not legal advice. Statutory rates move by city, province, and sector. Confirm the place of work before you issue an offer.
Sources
- Labour Code of the Russian Federation
- Federal Law No. 429-FZ of 28 November 2025 — MROT RUB 27,093
- Tax Code Chapter 34 — 2026 unified tariff and contribution limit
Hire in Russia
Tell us the city, the role, and whether this is a local contract or a search.